Data cardholder

ABSTRACT

THE DATA CARDHOLDER IS FORMED SIMPLY AND INEXPENSIVELY OF TRANSPARENT PLASTIC SHEET MATERIAL, AND IS CONSTRUCTED ESPECIALLY FOR SUPPORT BY THE DOOR AND THE LOCK OF A GLOVE COMPARTMENT OF A VEHICLE, SO THAT ACCIDENTAL DISPLACEMENT OR LOSS OF THE DATA CARD IS RENDERED IMPOSSIBLE OR AT LEAST UNLIKELY, THOUGH THE CARD IS READILY VISIBLE WITHIN AND REMOVABLE FROM THE SOLDER. A NOTCH IN AN EDGE OF THE DATA CARD ENGAGES THE LOCK BARREL TO RETAIN THE CARD AGAINST ACCIDENTAL DISPLACEMENT FROM THE HOLDER.

Jan. 12, 1971 h 1 c:.-1-|. JONES 5 I 3,553,865

DATA CARDHOLDER Filed Nov. 18, 1968 [2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CHARLES H. JONES ATT RNE United States Patent 3,553,865 DATA 'CARDHOLDER Charles H. Jones, 1291 Michigan Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45208 Filed Nov. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 776,675 Int. Cl. G09f 3/18 US. Cl. 40-10 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The data cardholder is formed simply and inexpensively of transparent plastic sheet material, and is constructed especially for support by the door and the lock of a glove compartment of a vehicle, so that accidental displacement or loss of the data card is rendered impossible or at least unlikely, though the card is readily visible within and removable from the solder. A notch in an edge of the data card engages the lock barrel to retain the card against accidental displacement from the holder.

The present invention relates to a data cardholder which is adapted particularly for application to the glove compartment door of an automotive vehicle.

The data card supported by the holder is designed to carry pertinent information about the vehicle occupant, which might be very beneficial in the event of an accident involving the vehicle and disabling the occupant, the names of persons to be notified in case of an accident, pertinent facts concerning the occupants known reaction to certain medicines or treatments, and other information helpful or vital to the well-being of the victim.

One object of the invention is to make certain that the data card will be found quickly and with certainty in the event of an accident, and that it will be protected from loss or damage at all times while the vehicle is in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a data cardholder so constructed as to support a data card always in full view, the card being looked in against accidental displacement from the holder, though readily removable therefrom when removal is necessary or desirable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a data cardholder of the character stated, which may be inexpensively fabricated from transparent plastic sheet material without the use of elaborate machinery or skilled labor.

A further object is to provide a data cardholder for the purposes stated, which will present a neat appearance and afford no interference with the normal use or enjoyment of the vehicle and its appurtenances.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated upon the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the data cardholder of the invention, shown supporting a data card in view upon the outer face of the glove compartment door of a vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the BIG. 1 assembly.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and showing the data card locked normally within the holder applied to the glove compartment door.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the holder displaced for removal of a data card therefrom.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the cardholder, modified by the application of adhesive strips to the rear face thereof, for detachably anchoring the holder upon a compartment door.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the holder of FIG. 5 adhesively applied to a compartment door which is inclined from the vertical.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second modification of the holder, supported by a compartment door.

3,553,865 Patented Jan. 12, 1971 FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third modification.

In all of the drawing views, the reference numeral 10 indicates a door of a glove compartment, or similar compartment usually provided in the instrument panel 13 of an automotive vehicle, and 12 indicates the key lock usually provided on such a door. The lock may include a forwardly extending keyreceptive tumbler barrel 14 at the exposed or outer face of the door, and a bolt or latch 16 at the inner face thereof. The door may be mounted for movement by means of a hinge 18, to open and closed positions relative to the compartment entrance. In FIG. 3, the instrument panel 13 is shown as a vertical panel, whereas in FIG. 6 it is shown as a panel which slopes downwardly and inwardly with respect to the compartment closed by door 10, these being matters of interior design in different vehicles.

The numeral 20 indicates the data cardholder of the present invention, which according to FIGS. 1 through 5 comprises a flexible plastic envelope having a forward transparent panel 22, a rear panel 24, and a mounting flap 26. The holder may advantageously be formed of a single rectangular length of transparent plastic sheet material folded transversely upon itself at 28 to form a pocket for data card 30', and again folded at 32 to provide the flap 26 integral with forward panel 22.

In FIGS. 1 through 5, both end edges 34, 34 of the transparent holder are shown closed, as by means of heat seals represented at 36; however, it is to be distinctly understood that one or both of said end edges may remain unsealed, and therefore open, in a modified construction of the holder.

The data card 30 of paper, cardboard or other suitable material, is preferably substantially rectangular in form and has an upper edge 38 (FIG. 1) provided with a wide notch or cut-out opening 40 of proper width and depth to accommodate the outwardly extended barrel 14 of lock 12. The barrel 14, being extended into notch 40 under normal conditions, restricts movement of card 30 both upwardly and in the sidewise or horizontal directions. Therefore, if the holder is one which is open or unsealed at one or 'both of the end edges 34, the card will nevertheless be retained against displacement horizontally, by the restrictive effect of the lock barrel within notch 40.

The forward and rear panels 22 and 24 of the holder are apertured to normally accommodate the extended lock barrel 14, as in FIG. 3. The openings or apertures for that purpose are denoted 42 and 44, and are preferably, though not necessarily, circular and of a size slightly greater than the diameter of the lock barrel. The flap 26 also is apertured, as at 46, to permit bolt 16 to extend through the flap when the later rests against the inner face of door 10. The bolt-receptive opening 46 may advantageously be elongate, as shown, to facilitate positioning of the flap about the bolt when mounting the holder upon door 10. Whereas the opening 46 is shown rectangular with sharp corners, it is more desirable that the corners be rounded, not only to facilitate forming of the opening 46, but also to minimize liability of the plastic material to tear at the corners.

Attention is now directed to FIGS. 3 and 4. In FIG. 3, the holder 20 is shown applied to compartment door 10, with a data card 30 supported therein between the forward and rear panels 22 and 24. The notch 40 of the card is shown embracing the lock barrel, to prevent shifting and possible displacement of the card from the holder. Also, flap 26 under restriction by bolt 16, overlies the upper edge of door 10 in normally suspending the holder against the outer face of the door. As suggested by FIG. 4, the holder may be swung bodily upwardly, hinging upon flap 26, to invert the holder and remove the lock barrel from openlugs 42, 44, thereby to release the card from the restrictive influence of the lock barrel and permit down-ward withdrawal of the card from the holder.

It should be noted, with reference to FIG. 4, that removal of the data card from the holder is elfected with ease and dispatch, and without necessarily unlocking and opening the compartment door 10, this being a matter of considerable importance in an emergency situation. It is further to be noted that while the card is quickly obtainable by the deliberate act of upending the holder, yet in the absence of such a deliberate action, accidental separation or loss of the card from the holder is practically impossible.

As suggested by FIG. 5, the rear panel of holder 20 may be provided with one or more areas 48 of adhesive, whereby the rear panel 24 may be temporarily anchored upon the outer face of door 10. This prevents swinging of the holder toward and from the door, and is particularly of advantage in connection with compartment doors which are inclined when closed, as in FIG. 6.

In the modification, FIG. 7, the forward panel 122 is connected with the rear panel 124 along a line of fold 128, and the panels are further connected to one another by means of the upright and horizontal heat seals 125 and 127, respectively. The card 30 carries the upper notch 40 for reception of the lock barrel as previously explained, to normally prevent accidental loss or displacement of the card from the open end 129 of the holder. The structure of FIG. 7 has a rear flap 126 like the flap 26 of FIG. 5, and is similarly apertured. The circular opening 142 is in panel 122, and a similar registering opening is provided in rear panel 124, substantially in accordance with FIG. 4. The heat seam or line of fastening at 125 in FIG. 7 may be omitted if desired, thereby to provide a holder having two open ends.

In FIG. 8 is shown a modification which is characterized by extreme simplicity, in that no heat seams or lines of fastening are employed. Here the holder is formed of a single elongate strip 200 of plastic sheet material of uniform width, folded upon itself at two parallel fold lines 228 and 232, to provide a forward panel 222, a rear panel 224, and a rear flap 226. The upper edge 227 of rear panel 224 is a free edge underlying the fold 232.

As in the structures previously described, the forward and rear panels 222 and 224 are provided with registering circular openings 242 and 244, respectively, to accommodate a lock barrel, and the rear flap 226 is provided with an elongate opening 246 corresponding to the opening 46 of FIG. 5. The holder of FIG. 8 has open opposite ends, as well as an open top, for admitting a data card to be inserted into the holder. The holder of FIG. 8 is applicable to a compartment door in the same manner as is suggested by FIGS. 3 and 4.

Since the device of FIG. 8 lacks heat seams or other connecting means joining the panels, and will therefore lack such structural strength as may be imparted by such seams or connecting means, it may be desirable to form the FIG. 8 holder of a heavier gauge sheet material than is used in forming the holders previously described. It will be apparent, however, that the holder in any case will not ordinarily be required to withstand much ill treatment or abuse, since its use generally is confined to private vehicles.

All forms of the device may be supplied with the adhesive areas of FIG. 5, if desired; and by preference, the enlongate opening provided for accommodating the bolt or latch of the lock, will desirably be characterized by rounded or filleted interior corners which are resistive to tearing of the plastic material. The plastic sheet material employed may be referred to as a soft plastic, which is fully transparent whereby data appearing on card 30 will be clearly visible and readable through the forward panel of the cardholder.

What is claimed is:

l. A data cardholder for application to the hinged door of a vehicle glove compartment, comprising:

a thin sheet of flexible material transversely folded upon itself to define a forward panel, a lower folded edge, a rear panel, an upper folded edge, and a support flap extending parallel to and at the rear of the rear panel in spaced relation thereto, said rear panel extended upwardly parallel to and be tween the forward panel and the flap and terminating at an upper edge adjacent said upper folded edge;

a pair of aligned apertures through said forward panel and rear panel adjacent said upper folded edge, and an aperture through said flap in alignment with said apertures through said forward and rear panels;

said forward and rear panels defining a data cardreceiving pocket therebetween, said lower folded edge defining a support for a data card to be placed over the upper edge of a hinged door of a vehicle glove compartment to support the data cardholder on a vehicle glove compartment door with the forward and rear panels disposed over the front thereof in flat abutting contact therewith and the flap disposed over the rear of the door in flat abutting contact therewith, said apertures adapted to receive therethrough a lock mechanism of a vehicle glove compartment door to prevent relative movement between said data cardholder and said door.

2. A data cardholder as defined by claim 1, wherein the card pocket formed between the forward and rear panels of the holder has opposite ends, at least one of which pocket ends is open to admit or release a data card.

3. A data cardholder as defined by claim 1, wherein the card pocket formed between the forward and rear panels of the holder has opposite ends both of which are Open to admit or release a data card.

4. A data cardholder as defined in claim 1, wherein the apertured flap is permanently fixed relative to both the forward and the rear panel of the holder.

5. A data cardholder as defined by claim 1, wherein the holder is invertible relative to a door on which it is placed by hinge movement at the flap, to disassociate the circular apertures of the panels from the extension of the tumbler barrel of a lock on said door, for release of the data card from the pocket of the holder.

6. A data cardholder as defined by claim 1, wherein an adhesive is carried by a limited area of the rear panel, for temporary fixation of said. rear panel upon the outer face of a hinged vehicle glove compartment door.

7. A data cardholder as in claim 1, wherein the data cardholder is formed of a transparent plastic material.

8. A data cardholder as in claim 1, wherein the apertures in the forward and rear panels are circular.

9. A data cardholder as in claim 8, wherein the aperture in the flap is rectangular and is larger in area than the apertures in the front and rear panels.

10. A data cardholder as in claim 1, wherein a data card is received in said pocket.

11. A data cardholder as in claim 10, wherein the upper edge of said data card is notched, the notch in said data card is substantial alignment with the apertures in said data cardholder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,895,704 1/1933 Crosby 40106 2,049,729 8/ 1936 Berkowitz 22974 2,142,843 1/1939 Harris 40159 JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner W. J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner 

